Rollfilm cartridge



Filed Feb. 11, 1952 INVENTOR VICTOR G. ITAL/ANO 0 A! A H ATTORNEYS LUnited States Patent ROLLFILM CARTRIDGE Victor G. Italiano, Binghamton,N. Y., assignor to General Aniline & Film Corporation, New York, N. Y.,a corporation of Delaware Application February 11, 1952, Serial No.270,998

1 Claim. (Cl. 242-71) This invention relates to light-tight, rollfilmcartridges of a type having a cylindrical shell, and at both ends adetachable cap or cover, a slot being provided in the shell throughwhich the photographic film is dispensed from a spool in the cartridge.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a rollfilm cartridge ofthis kind which is simple in construction, light-tight, and in which thecaps enclosing the ends of the body are held thereon by interengagingmeans.

A further object of the invention is to provide end caps having a rimfor engagement with the shell of the cartridge, and to retain the capsin position on the shell in a positive manner without interfering withthe easy withdrawal of the film from the slot formed in the shell.

A salient feature of this invention is the novel cap structure wherein aportion of the cap cooperates with a groove in the flange of the spoolto form a light-tight seal.

Further objects and features will be apparent from the followingdescription of the invention, defined in particularity in the appendedclaim, and taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric and exploded view of a film cartridge assembly,comprising shell, spool and end caps;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating details of thelight seals and the means for retaining the caps on the shell;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section along lines 3-3 of Figure 1illustrating the means for expanding the shell; and

Figure 4 is an isometric inverted view of the bottom flange of thespool, shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the cartridge comprises a shell or body 10,and end caps 11, both formed of metal. It will be understood that thecaps are similarly constructed and are interchangeable to fit either endof the shell. Accordingly, the description, directed to one cap, isintended to apply to both.

The spool upon which the film is wound is of a size freely rotatablewithin the space provided by the shell 10, and is journaled in the endcaps 11, and comprises a core 12 and flanges 13 and 13. The spool ispreferably made of plastic or similar suitable material.

The shell is split at one'side and has a film slot portion whichcomprises the lips 14 and 15 extending more or less tangentially fromthe cylindrical shell itself. The shell thus far described isconventional. Each end of the shell has an expanded portion 16 forming ashoulder 17 with the body of the shell. The portion 16 is slightlyinclined inwardly and is provided with a plurality of inwardly directedprotuberances 18 for a purpose to be described.

The cap 11 is in the form of an annulus having an outside flange 19 andan inside flange 20 forming therebetween a well or crevice 21 to receivethe expanded portion 16. The width of the expanded portion 16 isslightly greater than the depth of the well 21 so that in assembling thecaps to the shell, the flange 20 pressing against the protuberances 18,forces portion 16 into tight contact with the curled portion 22 of theflange 19.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the cap member 11 is provided with aninclined wall 23 terminating in a flange which is received in a circulargroove 25 formed in either one of the spool flanges 13 or 13'. Theflanges 13 and 13' include an inclined wall portion 26 complementary tothe wall 23 in the cap member. The flange 24, extending into the groove25, obstructs the light that may possibly enter the loaded film chamberthrough the clearance gap between the spool and the caps. The inclinedwalls 23 and 26 further serve to obstruct the rays of light that mightpossibly enter between the spool and end caps.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that thepresent construction is well adapted to accomplish the objects andfeatures set forth. While the invention has been described in detailwith respect to a preferred form, it is to be understood that minorchanges in the details of construction may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A rollfilm cartridge comprising a cylindrical shell and end caps, aspool rotatably received within said shell, said spool having endflanges, a circular groove formed in each of said flanges, and adepending intruding flange formed on each of said end caps receivable insaid grooves and complementary inclined wall portions on said caps andon the flanges of said spool, said intruding flange in said groove andsaid wall portions obstructing from all directions the passage of lightinto the cartridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,454,836 Slocomb May 8, 1923 1,686,204 Covert Oct. 2, 1928 1,686,462Owens Oct. 2, 1928 1,794,426 Taylor Mar. 3, 1931 2,019,672 Goodhand Nov.5, 1935 2,l53,575 Kinlock Apr. 11, 1939 2,511,383 Summers June 13, 19502,519,753 Goodhand Aug. 22, 1950 2,541,476 Mihalyi Feb. 13, 1951

